Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou

Maddy summaryHB 5431 allocates supplemental funding for Michigan public schools, primarily targeting districts affected by drinking water emergencies. It provides $10 million from the state school aid fund and $4.8 million from the general fund (2025-2026) for districts with at least 4,500 students (or 2,600+ post-2016) in cities with declared water emergencies, to hire staff like nurses and mental health workers and provide related services. The bill also allocates $12.5 million for educator talent programs through intermediate districts. All funds require reporting on service usage and must be expended by 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 5436 requires health insurers in Michigan to cover hearing aids and related services for qualifying enrollees. It mandates coverage up to $3,000 per hearing aid every 36 months (adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index starting in 2026), including evaluations, fittings, repairs, and related devices like earmolds. To qualify, an enrollee must be evaluated for hearing loss by an audiologist and medically confirmed as a hearing aid candidate by an otolaryngologist. Insurers may apply existing cost-sharing (like deductibles) but cannot exceed the $3,000 cap per device.

Maddy summaryHB 5438 modifies Michigan's Public Health Code to waive fees for vital records (such as birth, marriage, or death certificates) when individuals are fleeing or attempting to flee a dangerous situation, including domestic violence or abuse. This directly affects people escaping immediate threats who need these documents to establish identity, access services, or secure housing. The bill adds a specific provision to MCL 333.2891, requiring state agencies to provide these records at no cost in such circumstances. The change aims to remove financial barriers that might prevent vulnerable individuals from obtaining essential identity documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 5437 amends Michigan's identification card law (MCL 28.292) to add optional features for cardholders. It requires the Secretary of State to provide information about organ donation registries and allow individuals to indicate organ donor status via a heart symbol on their ID card. The bill also permits veterans to add a veteran designation (with verification) and includes space for emergency medical information stickers. The bill does not address fee waivers for domestic violence victims as suggested in its title; the provided text focuses solely on ID card content specifications, not fee changes. The bill is currently in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 5429 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates additional state funding for the autism navigator program. It directly affects the program by providing dedicated financial resources to support its operations and services. The bill creates a new appropriation act to fund this specific initiative within the state budget for fiscal year 2026. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, and it remains pending in the Appropriations Committee after its introduction on December 23, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5440 would allow Michigan taxpayers to voluntarily contribute $5 or more from their state income tax refund to a new "homeless advocacy fund" starting with the 2026 tax year. The bill amends the tax code to add this specific checkoff option on income tax forms, alongside existing charitable designations like the Children's Trust Fund. Funds designated for this new fund would be distributed directly to homelessness services, with the requirement that the fund must raise at least $50,000 annually to remain on the tax form. This change affects all Michigan taxpayers who file individual income tax returns and choose to allocate a portion of their refund to this new cause.

Maddy summaryHB 5409 amends Michigan's Crime Victim Compensation Act to include temporary pet boarding costs as an eligible expense for victims relocating due to a crime. The bill adds subsection (l) to section 11, allowing up to $2,500 per claimant for pet boarding when immediate relocation is necessary for safety or well-being. This directly affects crime victims who own pets and must move quickly after a crime, expanding existing coverage that previously excluded pet-related costs. The change does not alter the $45,000 total award limit or other compensation categories. The bill was introduced in December 2025 and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan domestic violence shelters receiving state funds to provide supportive services for common household pets, including pet shelter. It amends the domestic violence prevention law to add "supportive services for common household pets, including shelter" as one of the required service options. Shelters must either provide at least three of these services (including pet care) or help victims access them. This directly affects state-funded domestic violence shelters and their clients who own pets, addressing a common barrier to seeking safety.

Maddy summaryHB 5408 requires veterinarians to disclose specific information to animal owners before prescribing or dispensing medication. This includes the drug name, usage instructions, storage details (if available), common side effects, and relevant manufacturer warnings. Veterinarians must provide this either orally or in writing and document the disclosure method in the animal’s medical record. The requirement does not apply if the manufacturer hasn’t provided side effect information for the specific animal species. This bill directly affects veterinarians and animal owners in Michigan by standardizing medication disclosure practices.

Maddy summaryHB 5421 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to create a new exception allowing victims of stalking to qualify for benefits if they leave employment due to stalking. Currently, an exception exists for domestic violence victims under Section 29(a)(iv), but this bill replaces "domestic violence" with "stalking" in that provision. The change means individuals who leave jobs to escape stalking would no longer be disqualified from benefits, directly affecting stalking victims who might otherwise lose unemployment eligibility. This policy update modifies the disqualification rule without altering other existing provisions.